We have no specifics in the Bible about what Jesus did between the ages of 12 and 20. Here is an AI summary of the consensus that Jesus did then.
An AI Answer
The consensus view among historians and biblical scholars is that there is no definitive information about what Jesus did between the ages of 12 and approximately 30, often referred to as the "silent years" or "lost years." The canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) provide no details about this period, except for a single episode at age 12 when Jesus is described in Luke 2:41–52 as staying behind in Jerusalem to discuss matters with religious teachers in the temple, demonstrating remarkable wisdom.
Beyond this, scholars generally agree that:
Historical Silence: The New Testament is silent on Jesus’ activities during his teenage years and twenties. Any claims about this period are speculative, as no contemporary historical records outside the Gospels mention him.
Likely Context: Most scholars infer that Jesus likely lived a typical life for a Jewish male of his time and place in Nazareth, a small village in Galilee. This would involve:
Working as a carpenter or craftsman (tekton in Greek), following the trade of his father, Joseph, as suggested by Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55.
Participating in Jewish religious life, including observing the Torah, attending synagogue, and celebrating festivals like Passover.
Living in a modest, rural setting with his family, which likely included his mother, Mary, and siblings (mentioned in Mark 6:3).
Speculative Theories: Some non-canonical texts and later traditions, like the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas, offer imaginative stories about Jesus’ youth They are widely regarded as legendary and not historically reliable. Theories suggesting Jesus traveled to places like India, Tibet, or Egypt during this time (e.g., to study with spiritual masters) stem from 19th- and 20th-century esoteric writings, such as The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ by Nicolas Notovitch. These ideas lack credible historical evidence and are dismissed by mainstream scholars.
Cultural Expectations: As a Jewish male, Jesus would have been expected to marry and start a family by his late teens or early twenties, but the Gospels do not mention a wife or children. Some scholars speculate he may have remained celibate, possibly influenced by ascetic Jewish movements like the Essenes, though there’s no direct evidence linking him to such groups.
In summary, the consensus is that Jesus likely lived an unremarkable life as a Jewish craftsman in Nazareth during his teens and twenties, with no reliable records of specific activities. Claims beyond this are speculative and not supported by historical evidence.
1. He studied and memorized Scripture.
When Jesus is in the wilderness — exhausted, hungry, alone and vulnerable, Satan uses the opportunity to attack and tempt Jesus to question His identity. Jesus quotes Scripture in defense. Jesus’ years as a student of the Law is apparent here. He dedicated himself early on to a knowledge and application of the truth, just as I must now.
2. He made a habit of quiet time with God.
Throughout the few years of His recorded life, we see Jesus repeatedly retreat from everyone else to pray. I don’t know about you, but if I’m not intentional about my time with God, it doesn’t really happen. Life gets busy. Jesus was busy, too. But it’s obvious He prioritized communing with the Father long before his public ministry started — and that included His 20s.
3. He stayed home.
When Jesus first reads the prophecy I mentioned above, He’s in His hometown at the synagogue, and we learn it “was His custom” to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. When Jesus is on the cross in His last horrible moments of life, the sign reads “Jesus of Nazareth” (hardly the ancient equivalent of New York, Paris or Tokyo). Even if you count all the places Jesus traveled in His life, it was a very small area compared to the entire world. In short, Jesus didn’t go backpacking across the world. He didn’t chase experiences. He didn’t have a bucket list. He lived his 20s in a quiet and very small-town way.
4. He spent a lot of time with His parents.
Jesus learned his carpenter trade from His dad and continued to work with him well into adulthood. When He does His first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana, He’s there with his mom. On the cross, He transfers care of His mom to John, indicating their close bond. Jesus lived with, worked with, and wasn’t ashamed to be with his parents.
5. He worked an ordinary blue-collar job and did “life” stuff.
Jesus is referred to as ”the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55). What’s more, tradition indicates that Joseph died a few years before Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus likely took over His dad’s business, managed the bills, and helped His mom run the household.
6. He built relationships.
The older I get, the more it becomes clear that friendship is a skill just like anything else. It takes practice to know how to relate to people and navigate inevitable conflict. Jesus had His share of detractors. Even His own brothers didn’t believe in Him at first (John 7:3-5). Yet He “grew in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52), so He clearly had friends and practiced relationship skills over the years.